Product Description

" A newly married Methodist minister, Larry Zellers was serving as a missionary and teacher in a small South Korean town near the 38th parallel when he was captured by the North Koreans on June 25, 1950. Until his release in 1953, Zellers endured brutal conditions and inhumane treatment. Through his story, Zellers shows that, despite the opinion that POWs live only for themselves, many in the camps worked to help others and conducted themselves with honor.

Customer Reviews (3)

Powerful story!
We homeschool and wanted some good books/biographies about the Korean War.This book is a jewel. It is about a Methodist minister held as a POW for three years by the N. Koreans and Chinese.The author makes you feel like you are right there with him in the POW camps.He incorporates so much knowledge of the country of Korea, geography,politics of the day, and the mind set of the communist N. Korean way of thinking and what happens to POW's physically as well as emotionally. My dad served in N. Korea and I came away from this book with a greater respect for what my dad and his commrades must have witnessed in this "Forgotten War".

It does not have any bad language but his discription of the death march is very real and heartbreaking. We learned more about the Korean War from this book than any textbook out there.

Awesome book
Great book on a little reported subject-POW life during the Korean War.Mr. Zellers does an awesome job conveying the fears and hopes of POWs during that time.You can viscerally feel their fear through his writing.I highly recommend this moving book to anyone with even a passing interest for Korean War history.

A valued, important, candidmilitary biography
Larry Zellers, a newly married Methodist minister serving as a missionary and teacher in a small South Korean town near the 38th parallel, was taken prisoner in the early days of the Korean War. He and his fellow prisoners were American combat soldiers who were the very first to arrive in Koreafrom bases in Japan. The youngest among them had received only minimalcombat training. All of the mean were inadequately trained and furnishedwith sometimes malfunctioning weapons. After being taken prisoner by theNorth Koreans, the men suffered incredible hardships of cold, hunger,physical abuse, lack of medical attention, fatigue, fear isolation, andintimidation. In Enemy Hands is Zellers' first-hand story of his captivityfrom June 25, 1950 to his release in 1953. Throughout his personal accountZellers shows that, despite the opinion that POWs live only for themselves,many in the camps worked to help others and conducted themselves withhonor. Zellers became a U.S. Air Force chaplain after his release. In EnemyHands is a valued, important, biographical contribution to the growing bodyof Korean War literature and a much appreciated contribution to anyacademic, public library military history collection. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Reference to 'The Forgotten War'
Often called 'The Forgotten War,' Korea was a milestone in the Cold War, and remains to this day a threat to world peace. This book is a masterpiece of history about the war. The structure of the book is primarily a chronology of Korea, it begins on October 3, 2333 B.C. On that date the god Hwanung transformed a bear into a woman and mated with her. Their son, Dangun, established the Korean nation. Honest!

The Chronology contains a day by day history of Korea. It has extensive coverage of the Japanese occupation, and the aftermath of World War II. Of course the chronology changes its tone changes on June 25, 1950 when North Korean troops cross the border beginning the Korean War. The basic format of the chronology is to describe what is being done each day by the Eighth Army, the Navy, the Air Force and in the Political/Administrative area. The chronology ends on November 18, 2005 when President Bush announces that the US will start to withdraw troops from South Korea.

The book concludes with sections on Biographies, Weapons (including several entries on planes that I never knew were used there), Participation,a glossary, and appendicies containing mostly statistics, several pages of maps and an extensive bibliography.

In spite of the size of the book I found very few errors, example: there is an entry in the weapons section on the Tornado (North American) B-46. That should have been B-45.

All in all, an excellent book. It is printed on acid-free paper and is extremely well made. It should last a long time, even in library service. ... Read more

Product Description
Once North Korean forces crossed the 38th parallel in 1950, the lives of many Americans half the globe away, were disrupted. President Truman authorized a call up of enlisted, inactive reservists—like Richard B. Holmsten, an about to be married 20-year-old with a bright future. Replacements were needed for artillerymen killed during one disastrous day in August 1950. He was assigned to the Headquarters Battery of the 8th Field Artillery Battalion of the 25th Infantry Division.

This memoir, begins with Holmsten’s transition from civilian to newlywed soldier. It covers training at Fort Lewis (Washington state), the voyage across the Pacific, and the readying of a Fire Direction Control Center for 105 Howitzers near Kaesong. It covers the early days of the conflict as the unit moved during the flux of battle, the problems faced as the unit retreated south of Seoul, and the efforts put forth as the unit struck north again. The major campaign covered concerns the crossing of the Han River in March 1951. The crossing was a massive but fast operation, and Holmsten’s unit was responsible for firing 70,000 rounds of artillery against enemy forces. The daily happenings, hopes and fears of soldier life are explored, including the often-contentious relationship of enlisted reserve versus regular army. It concludes with the author’s rotation back to civilian life. Photographs accompany the text. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explores diverse cultural issues of the Vietnam War, including body, race, gender, and nation, based on the experiences of Koreans and Americans. In contrast with American writers such as Tim O'Brien, Michael Herr, Gustav Hasford, Joan Didion, Jayne Anne Phillips, and Bobbie Ann Mason, who focus primarily on how Americans perceived the war and its affect on American society, three Korean writers, Hwang Suk-young, Park Young-han, and Ahn Junghyo, testify that the war also played a crucial role in changing Korean society and the culture of the era. They maintain that Koreans were more concerned with national and racial issues than with troubled individuals, and that Korean soldiers were sensitive to material aspects of the war, regarding themselves as American mercenaries. The book also considers the contrasting perspectives in the narratives of O'Brien and Hwang, who both examine the My-Lai massacre. Narratives of the Vietnam War by Korean and American Writers is a useful resource for courses in comparative literature, English literature, cultural studies, gender studies, and Asian studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The "Mercenary Factor" of the Vietnam War:Korean "Soldiers of Fortune"
This book has it's moments of great interest, especially when it explores a very obscure fact:about 220,000 South Korean soldiers served as mercenary soldiers to assist the United States in it's fight against Ho Chi Minh and theNorth Vietnamese in America's version of "The Vietnam War". Surpassing the Thai's, Philipino's and Australian contingents, South Korea had the largest amount of "Free World Troops" with approximately 50,000 men at one time at it's height. The "Republic of Korea" (their troops were called "ROK's) specifically sent these men to fight with and for the United States in South Vietnam. Mercenaries and Lyndon Johnson's "More Flags": The Hiring of Korean, Filipino and Thai Soldiers in the Vietnam WarSadly, Jinim Park points out that the courts in Seol, Korea on February 15th, 1997 ruled that the South Korean government was not responsible to compensate their own Korean Vietnam war veterans for any ill-effects, damage or death due to "Dioxin" poisoning because the American military was in charge of spraying the herbicide ("Agent Orange").Waiting for an Army to Die: The Tragedy of Agent Orange Park points out that the South Korean government justified this decision because they were neither given any right to participate in the decision-making process nor were they aware of the potential danger of it during the war.Agent Orange: Collateral Damage in Vietnam Park angrily questions why so many young Koreans risked their lives in a foreign country considering that their government was not prepared to recognize their sacrifices.Agent Orange on Trial: Mass Toxic Disasters in the Courts, Enlarged Edition The author eloquently points out the inequity of justice as in the United States, Vietnam Veterans were treated to some extent for their "Post Tramautic Stress Disorders" (P.S.T.D.) and "Agent Orange" exposure, although not without a bitter fight to organize a public outcry for their plights. It is well known and an embarrassing chapter in American history the shameful attempt by our government to repeatedly deny a link between the spraying of the herbicide and the development of various ailments and cancers in Vietnam Veterans. Invisible Children: The Third Generation of Agent Orange Victims in Vietnam What Park does in her book is she examines the literary representatives put forth by three Korean writers who served there. These authors are Hwang Suk-young, Park Young-han, and Ahn Junghyo. These authors concluded that Korean soldiers (like the "Hessians" were to the British in our "Revolutionary War for Independence") were mercenaries who traded their lives for economic rewards from AmericaThe Hessians Similarly, The ROK's" viewed the Vietnam War as an "American Colonial War". The Americans were the colonizers and the Vietnamese were the colonized. Indeed, the ROK soldiers were in a strange position, as they often displayed strong sympathies toward the Vietnamese, while vacillating between two conflicting views of themselves-one as American allies, and one as the same "Asian Gooks" as the Vietnamese. This was a combination that frequently resulted in depersonalization and confusion as to who to side with. Park points out that the main reason South Korea sent her troops to Vietnam was to repay the sixteen nations (particularly the U.S.) for providing military and and support during the "Korean War" of 1950-1953. This war occurred when North Korea, with the support of Communist China and the Soviet Union launched a massive and surprise invasion of South Korea.Park looks through American eyes and notes that the amount of troops sent to Vietnam during the Johnson administration was insufficient. Chiefly South Korea, amongst other nations, was approached about sending troops under the "More Flags" program. It is very interesting to note when the issue of mercenaries is discussed, South Korea received $927 billion in payments and access to discount goods through U.S. post exchanges on military bases. Finally, Park points out that the Vietnam War militarily armed South Korea: "While American soldiers in Vietnam were armed with modern "M-16's", ROK soldiers were not given the same "M-16's" but given M-1's". This is confirmedby John J. Culbertson, a veteran. A Sniper in the Arizona: 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in the Arizona Territory, 1967 Culbertson wrote about watching ROK soldiers in battle: "Every Communist in Vietnam was scared to death about going up against the Koreans. The "Tiger Division" and the "White Horse" were the Korean's best units". "M-1's" were those which U.S. soldiers used during W.W. II and the Korean War. They were very heavy, not to mention old fashioned. The U.S. government promised South Korea to renew their "M-1's" with "M-16's". Once the Korean soldiers were given the "M-16's", they were allowed to take them back to Korea once their military duties were over. Consequently, the South Korean army would be modernized. All factors considered this book was a well researched, clearly written and highly informative treatment of a part of both American and South Korean history that has unjustifiably received scant attention and investigation. Let's also not forget the 5,241 "mercenaries" killed in Vietnam from the "free world" countries that fought side by side with U.S. troops from 1965-1973. Unfortunately, as Jinim Park clearly sounds out, Korean participation in the Vietnam War has surfaced only through "allusion" in major Vietnam War narratives by American writers, if even mentioned at all. ... Read more

Product Description
Was the Korean War really like M*A*S*H?In their own words, Navy physicians, dentists, nurses, and corpsmen tell the real story of how they practiced medicine during the so-called "forgotten war," often in unimaginable circumstances. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

These are real heroes.
The general public today doesn't really know what a true hero is.The men and women in this book are REAL heroes in every way.

My father-in-law, Glen Snowden, was one such man.He is in the book.

A researcher called him a few years ago to inquire about his experiences in Korea, one incident in particular.Apparently the Marine he saved had spoken of him, and had drawn some illustrations about the event.So Mr. Snowden told her about the incident on the phone in a characteristicallyhumble, matter-of-fact manner. What the interviewer didn't know was that many years after the war he was to lose an arm from the injury he sustained.What we all didn't know was that he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's and if that phone call had come even a few months later, he would not have recalled the incident with such clarity, and that little piece of history would have been lost forever.We are grateful that the story of his service was recorded for all to read and respect. Let it never be that our heroes are forgotten.

A Must Read!
Was the Korean War really like M*A*S*H? Not according to Lt.(j.g.) Henry Litvin, MC who served with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines in Inchon. "I was literally grasping at straws to treat shock. Stop bleeding, keep them flat and evacuate them to the rear fast. I never knew about MASH until years later when the show came out. I remember sitting with my wife watching it and being furious. They were laughing and I never remember much laughter. I don't remember any laughter where we were."

Litvin is one of several Navy physicians, dentists, nurses, and corpsmen who tell the real story of how they practiced medicine chronicled in Frozen In Memory: U.S. Navy Medicine in the Korean War, by Navy Medical Department Historian and author Jan K. Herman.

Published in 2006 by Booklocker.com Inc., Frozen in Memory is a sequel to Battle Station Sick Bay: Navy Medicine in World War II, but with one important addition. In Battle Station Sick Bay, Herman confined his interviews to only the caregivers. In Frozen In Memory, he includes stories of the Marines and sailors who were on the receiving end of Navy medicine during the Korean War.

Through oral histories, this book vividly describes the unimaginable circumstances under which these forgotten heroes worked. Operations were performed on scores of mangled young men without the benefit of x-ray equipment and using retractors made from the brass of discarded artillery shells. Corpsmen and physicians entered the field of battle right along side the Marines carrying with them a bag of medical supplies from World War II that contained bandages, a surgical kit, bandage scissors, and morphine. Casualties had to be moved back to battalion aid stations before they could get life-saving IVs and plasma. These caregivers survived on frozen C-rations that would be thawed on the engine block of a truck or jeep, ingesting whatever food particles would thaw. Many times the only water source would be contaminated snow. At the battle aid stations they would care for the wounded even though the station would be under fierce attack by enemy rockets and gunfire.

In additions to first-hand accounts from the battlefields of the Pusan Perimeter, Inchon, Seoul and Chosin, Herman also includes the stories of medical staff as they treated casualties onboard medevac flights, at Yokosuka Naval Hospital, and aboard hospital ships. These stories often go beyond the medical arena as the veterans share observations and opinions about the meaning of their war and how it had affected their lives since.

Herman also included a fascinating section in his book entitled "The Cast," a listing of those who were interviewed with a brief epilogue describing what occurred in their lives following the end of the war. As a Navy nurse historian, I was especially pleased to see the names of Navy nurses Marilyn Ewing Affleck, Rosella Nesgis Asbelle, Sarah Griffin Chapman, Nancy "Bing" Crosby, Lura Jane Emery, Bobbi Hovis, and Dorothy Venverloh, most of whom I have had the pleasure to meet through the incredible network of the Navy Nurse Corps Association.

This is a much needed and important historical account of the men and women who endured the unimaginable circumstances of war and sacrificed so much in selfless service to heal bodies. Just as many Korean War veterans will have their memories of the brutality of war frozen in memory, the reader will also find this superbly written mosaic of oral histories unforgettable.Frozen In Memory: U.S. Navy Medicine in the Korean War is a must read!
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Product Description

Despite the American tendency to bypass it, the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 was a watershed in American history. It was in Korea, for the first time, that the United States committed its armed forces to limiting an expansion, by Communist forces, which many believed was designed to take over the world; it was also the first war that a world organization, the United Nations, played a military role. The conflict in Korea was a war that was fought in hardship and danger by the grunt, the man and woman in the field, bringing an end to the myth that possession of an atomic bomb made conventional warfare unnecessary. Training, usually with World II weapons, life on the front, care of the wounded and the dead, and coming home, are just some of the topics covered in The Korean War. In addition, a timeline of events, a helpful topically arranged bibliography of recommended sources, and illustrations, including many photos taken by the soldiers themselves, bring this period into full focus.

Customer Reviews (1)

This book is a joke
This book displays a truly colossal ignorance of its subject.That might sound unfairly negative, but put the book to the test.Just open to any given page and you will see error after error.Ok, I've just done that myself to demonstrate: I've opened the book to the page on tanks in this theater. What did I find?The description of the Pershing and Sherman tanks available to the UN forces (US troops).What does it say?That the Sherman was the more effective of the two tanks!Read on ... we soon discover that APC ammo for tank guns is short for "Armored Personnel Carrier!"

Obviously a hack job.There's a growing list of books on the Korean War available -- no need to buy one that obviously doesn't have the first clue of the basics for this theater.

... Read more

Product Description
On June 28, 1950, five U.S. airmen died when their aircraft were shot down over Korea. They became the first U.S. casualties in a war that started three days earlier, when the North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th parallel and invaded the Republic of South Korea. The losses of U.S. military personnel that began with those five airmen would continue for 37 months and would ultimately total 33,985 American fatalities and more than 100,000 other American casualties.

This is a history of U.S. involvement in the Korean War as told through those casualties—by the dates they occurred, their causes, their numbers and the units in which they served. This work is subdivided into three units including The Peninsular War, Active Defense and The War of the Hills. ... Read more

Product Description
On March 27, 1950, the author turned 17; ten days later he enlisted in the U.S. Army. During his training in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, he first learned of the "police action" in Korea, and like many others he volunteered for duty there. His biggest fear was that the action would be over by the time he arrived in Korea.

Private Morrow was assigned as a rifleman in the 24th Infantry Regiment Combat Team, one of the most outstanding units in Korea and the last all black army unit; he served with distinction until he was wounded. After a short stint in Pusan, he became a paratrooper and rigger in the 8081st Airborne and Resupplying Company stationed in southern Japan. Throughout his time in the service, Private Morrow had to face the institutional racism of the U.S. Army where black soldiers consistently served longer and performed more dangerous duties than white soldiers. The effects of this on the 18-year-old private were longterm—and are described here. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

BUGOUT BLUES (?)
I also served in the Korean war and the memories I have of the 24th Infantry Regiment, under the condition they fought under, (segregation,racist & etc)they was out standing in combat & bugged out no more then any others combat soldiers, including the almighty marines and that's a fact. In fact when the enemy's incoming firepower is greater then your outgoing fire power,believe me its time to get out of range or stay & die. Or end up a capture. Everyone there knew that when things went bad, it was usually the old 24th RCT, the 65th Porto Rican RCT, or the South Koreans ROK soldiers, or some other non-white combat unit that got the blame. Now here's a well kept secret for you, in reality, the term "Bug out Boogie" originated from the 24th Infantry Division. Shssss, now don't go telling anyone it a well kept secret. But you would've had to be there to know the truth. Or ask anyone that was there at the time. Wars, are nothing like the one's fought in Hollywood

What's a Commie Ever Done to Black People
I think this is a great book for not only black people, but for white as well. We are all God's people and we should only see people not color. A must read book for all.

It's About Time
So much has been published on WW II in the past few years due to the 50th anniversary, that it is discouraging that the contribution of Black Americans has been so neglected, both in the picture books and text.Bravo to Mr. Morrow for his courage then and now, because many who felt the sting of racism in the military refused to write about it. Despite Truman's mandate to desegregate the military in 1948, the armed forces, particularly the Army, strenuously resisted, and it was years before the mandate was fully implemented.Many Americans do not realize that the Army was segregated, and wonder why there were no Black soldiers in the movie "Sergeant Ryan."Mr. Morrow's book will help open the door to the truth, and help us take one more step forward in ending racism.

Coming of Age
Many coming of age stories have been written, but rarely from the viewpoint of an African-American soldier, even more rarely from the viewpoint of an enlisted man with only a grade-school education. Morrow joins the US Army at 17 during the Korean �War� to satisfy his thirst for adventure and demonstrate his patriotism. He volunteers for front line combat in Korea and finds out on arriving that life ain�t like the movies. We live through his eyes and thoughts as he is forced to kill or be killed. After heis wounded and sent to for rest and recuperation, we also share his experience of wartime romance. However, this is not your usual jingoistic, gung-ho, shoot-em up war story. Morrow also allows us to experience the questions that haunt him as he trudges through the deadly countryside. This is an educational and entertaining book for any reader interested in African-American and/or military history. I would also recommend this book as a gift for a young man or woman as a Rites of Passage present. I am a woman, who does not usually read war stories, but this held my interest and provided an in depth, positive, human account of one man�s war experiences. It should be made into a movie. It has all the qualifications: a quest, adventures, and love interest.

Review of Curtis Morrow's What's a Commie ever Donme to Blac
I think it is wonderful that someone was thoughtful enough to write down a personal experience during a war that was very unpopular at the time.This is recorded history for generations to come. It is a touching story. I urgepeople to read about our history. It may be one step toward making theworld a better place. ... Read more

Product Description
The Encyclopedia of the Korean War is the most comprehensive reference work on the war to date and will set a new standard for military history. Following on the heels of the triumphant Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War, it features:

600+ entries, many built on new information from Russian and Chinese archives100+ contributors, both civilian professors and military officers147 primary source documents150+ illustrations20 mapsCoverage of pre- and postwar KoreaCoverage of hitherto secret Soviet and Chinese involvementKorean and U.S. perspectivesChronology of Korean historyGlossaryGeneral bibliographyCross-referencesIndex ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Encyclopedia of the Korean War
Dr. Tucker has done an incredible job in compiling elucidation of the Korean conflict. These books are the best reference material currently available on the subject matter.

Encyclopedia of the Korean War
The problem with a work of this type is that the editor must depend on the accuracy of the submissions sent to him.The introduction by John Eisenhower has both errors of fact and errors of omission.First, he states that the 24th Division, the first to arrive was almost wiped out.Secondly he says that they were followed by the First Cavalry Division and then the 25th Infantry.He lists the 2dInfantry next, followed by the First Marine Division.He omits entirely the 7th Infantry Division, which participated in the Inchon landing concurrently with the First Marine Division.Actually the third regiment of the First Marines did not arrive at Inchon until after the 7th Infantry had completed their landing.The 24th was not almost destroyed, it remained as a fighting force until relieved on the line by the First Cavalry Division on 21 July.The 25th Infantry was the second to arrive in Korea, with its first elements landing immediately after the last elements of the 24th Division landed at Pusan.
There are two entries by Daniel Bierne, both actually about the battle at Unsan.He indicates in both entries that the First Cavalry was ordered north to block the Chinese force that had overrun ROKA forces.He also states that the 1st LU 2d Battalions of the 8th Cavalry had hardly taken up defensive positions on the evening of November 1 when theyy were overrun by two divisions of the Chinese 39th Army. The facts, as recorded in First Cavalry Division and Eighty Cavalry Regimental War Diaries and Unit Histories are that the 8th Cavalry Regiment was ordered on October 28th to proceed at 8 AM on October 29th to relieve the First ROK Division at Unsan and proceed north and west to the Yalu.They arrived on the early afternoon of October 30th after biviouacing overnight at Yongsang.Patrols sent out that day were unable to make any contact with the enemy.Relief of the 1s ROK Division was scheduled for noon on October 31st.That morning the ROK's lost 2000 yards and the Commander of the ROK unit refused to be relieved, so relief was rescheduled for the next day.Mr. Bierne also states that the 8th Cavalry was almost destroyed.Official records of the 8th Cavalry indicate that total casualties for the month of November, most of which occurred on the 1st and 2d of November were 9 killed, 235 wounded and 584 missing.Since total strength of the Regiment was about 3,000, loss of 829 hardly equates to destruction.Battery A of the 99th Field Artillery made it out intact and Battery C lost only one of its six 105mm howitzers in the battle.The missing figure was adjusted downward by 19 as that many members of the 8th Cavalry captured at Unsan were inexplicably released by the Chinese and returned to our lines on November 22.This included the First Sergeant of "I" Company of the 8ths Third Battalion, Master Sergeant Samuel Cleckner.
Mr. Tucker, in his two entries about the Battle of Osan/Task Force Smith relies almost entirely on the accounts of Roy Appleman, which are very inaccurate based on Unit Histories and War Diaries of the 24th Infantry Division and the 21st Infantry Regiment, which tell an entirely different story.

ALL IN ALL, MY ORIGINAL RATING WAS EXTREMELY ERRONEOUS, AS MR. TUCKER HAD TO HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT PUTTING THIS BOOK TOGETHER.HE COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE HAD TIME TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF ALL SUBMITTALS AND REFERENCES.IT HAS TAKEN ME OVER THREE YEARS JUST RESEARCHING THE LIMITED AREA CONCEERNING JUST THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THE KOREAN WAR.

Excellent reference for the Korean War.
A great book for students of the Korean War.Thorough coverage.Excellent seller.

Very useful
I've been reading and studying about the Korean War recently.I had bought this encyclopedia some months ago in anticipation of this.While I have read only a few entries in the encyclopedia, the ones I have read have all been very informative with good depth.As might be expected given the length of the book, there is a wide range of topics covered.

As to format, there is a very useful listing of all the topic entries at the front of the book, along with a plethora of plain but clear maps.I might mention though, that the map on p. xxviii, intended to be a map of the Inchon landings, is actually a reprint of the initial North Korean invasion map.Also, under the entry for "Orders of Battle", one is directed to Appendix I, which seems to be missing.However, in an undertaking as extensive as this, these anomolies are minor.

In sum, this book is a very important and useful addition to Korean War historiography.I'm certainly glad it exists and that I bought it!

For school and community library military history collection
Encyclopedia Of The Korean War: A Political, Social, And Military History is deftly edited by Spencer C. Tucker and presents the reader with a thorough, comprehensive, in-depth, and deeply researched compendium of knowledge over the Korean conflict often referred to as "The Forgotten War." Entries are listed in A to Z format; black-and-white photographs sparsely illustrate the detailed, matter-of fact text. Strongly recommended for school and community library military history collections, the Encyclopedia Of The Korean War is a superbly presented reference for looking up details concerning people, places, weapons, politics, military actions and much more about this pivotal Asian conflict. ... Read more

Product Description
The epic retreat-under-fire of the First Marine Division from the Chosin Reservoir in the depths of a North Korean winter--from the point of view of the men, the foxholes and tanks, command posts and hospital wards. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good study from a small unit perspective
Hammel's book is focused on the experience of the near defeat at Choosin from the perspective of some of the small units that were involved, with a special emphasis on groups of company to regiment size (100 to 1000) men.It does this in a careful chronology that is supported by adequate anddetailed maps (but I wish a few more had been available). I was impressedby the ability of these small fragmented groups to resist the overwhelmingnumbers they faced, reminding me of the adage that a three to one forceratio is the minimum for sucess.

As a top down look at the events andcommanders of the battle I would perhaps suggest another book with a morestrategic view, the tight focus does not allow a complete discussion of thesurrounding events.

As an historical description of the individualsolider and the battle experience with a competent understanding ofmilitary organization I recommend it.

Most inaccurate account so far.
Hammell has quite a large number of inaccuracies, slanted opinions, and has failed to verify facts from his sources. The book has a very negative view of the same US Army, whose sacrifice on the east side of Chosinundoubtedly saved the allies chance for withdrawal from Hagaru-ri and alsoprovided the rear guard action for the evacuating column. Appears to bewritten more for personal glory and profit, than a source of usefulinformation. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the story of Japanese American citizen's participation in and experience with the events of WorldWar II and the Korean War, not only as the brave soldiers they turned out to be, but as loyal citizens who who were often distrusted, discriminated against and actually incarcerated and otherwise deprived of their civil rights. ... Read more

Product Description
This book covers the history of the 4th Fighter Wing, from re-activation in 1946, through the end of the short TDY to Korea in 1957. The early history covers the entire F-80 era, including the first jet aerobatic team, and the introduction of the legendary F-86 Sabre in 1949. From daily squadron diaries, the coverage on Korea begins with the move to Korea in November 1950, through the first operations in December, including a first person account of LtCol Bruce Hintons first MiG kill. Dozens of MiG kill reports are included in the various chapters, with another first person account of Capt Jim Jabaras fifth and sixth kills, making him the first jet ace in history. Pilots from the 4th Wing accounted for 502 of the 792 MiGs shot down in the Korean War, and had twenty-five aces of the total of thirty-nine aces crowned in Korea. Photo coverage includes most of the aces and their aircraft, maintenance, and airfield scenes. A complete list of every victory, and all the losses, is also contained. Interviews with pilots, crew chiefs, and factory tech reps tell the complete story of the Fourth But First before, during, and after the Korean War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Dad's Unit in Korean War
My father served as an aircraft maintenance officer in the 4th Fighter Wing during the Korean War.This is the first book that has given me a detailed historical account of that unit's preparation for and involvement in the Korean War.There are a number of books that tell about the pilots, especially the aces from the 4th Fighter Wing.This book does that, but also gives the situation of the support personnel, including personal accounts of their experiences.A superb book!

Combat History of the USAF's Top-Scoring F-86 Unit!
F-86 expert Larry Davis relates the Korean War combat exploits of the 4th FIW, the top-scoring Sabre unit of the war in this nicely-done 2001 book from Schiffer Publishing. Davis, editor of 'Sabre Jet Classics,' the magazine of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, has produced what will quite likely become the standard work on the subject.

The 4th FIW added more luster to its WWII record by accounting for 54% of all the MiGs downed over North Korea. Its ranks boasted 24 of the 39 jet aces of the war including the 1st F-86 ace, James Jabara, who was the 2nd highest-scoring ace of the war. And, not surprisingly, the top-scoring fighter squadron of the Korean conflict, the 335th, was assigned to the 4th Wing. The unit certainly lived up to its motto: Fourth but First!

Hurriedly committed to the Korean conflict in November 1950, the 4th was the sole Sabre unit in Korea until November 1951. Made up of many WWII veterans the wing soon took the measure of the MiGs they encountered over MiG Alley. Jabara was the wing's first ace but others - Dick Becker, 'Hoot' Gibson, Dick Creighton, Medal of Honor winner George Davis, Wing CO Harrison Thyng and Bob Love - quickly achieved 'five down and glory.'

Though 4th pilots performed many feats of bravery, the most selfless act occurred in January 1952 on the ground. Due to the activation of the second F-86 wing, the 4th's in-commission rate dropped to 55%. Unsuccessful in solving that problem due to USAF bureaucracy, Thyng went over the heads of the AF chain of command and sent the Chief of Staff a Personal Message stating he couldn't be responsible for maintaining air superiority over North Korea. It could have been a career-destroying move but Thyng was more concerned about the men under his command than personal advancement.

Details on Thyng's gutsy action are given in the book along with full accounts of all the wing's MiG battles. Davis interviewed a number of the wing's aces, MiG killers, ground crew, headquarters staff and even civilian tech reps to tell the wing's full story.

The book is illustrated with hundreds of black & white and color photographs of pilots, aircraft, ground scenes and gun-camera shots. Visually THE 4TH FIGHTER WING IN THE KOREAN WAR is a treat.

In short, Larry Davis' book is a wonderfully-written and well-illustrated tribute to the 4th FIW. The $45.00 price tag is not too high a price to pay for this outstanding chronicle of an illustrious fighter unit.

The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War
Larry Davis has done a fine job with this gem. He has told the unit's history with personal interviews and official documents. This volume has a very heathy number of illustrations to allow the non-historian to get the full view. The only gripe I have is a lack of good pictures of the main protagonist of the 4th- the MiG-15. While it is a unit history, a good view of the villain is always nice. That being said, the best part is where the pilots recount some of their more memorable experiences. Without a doubt, this book will be a welcome addition in any library. ... Read more

Product Description
The stories of each of the Medal of Honor winners interwoven into an overview history of the Korean War. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The best of the 3 Murphy has written on MoH awardees.
This is the best book by far of the three that Murphy has written on MoH winners in the three major wars. It is expertly detailed and has all of the recipients inserted in the timeline of the course of the war. There are so many details about each recipient, it is a wonder how and where he managed to get all the facts and keep them straight. This appears to be a labor of love and the great respect shown each recipient is plainly evident. This is also an excellent history of the Korean conflict, not only the MoH winners, so it serves a double purpose. Highly recommended, most definitely.

All the M.O.H. awardees.
The author, who is the editor of the journal of the Medal of Honor Historical Society, skillfully weaves each of the Korean War Medal of Honor stories chronologically into the context of the war, providing insight into not only the individual heroism but also the development of the conflict itself.
With maps, a useful introduction detailing Medal of Honor history, tabular index of recipients, bibliography, and index, this is a handy compendium of MOH awardees, and also useful for its insights into the unique nature of the Korean War.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One Long Weekend
William M. Donnelly, is a historian at the U.S. Army Center of Military History, and he has written an interesting study on the National Guard during the Korean War.Given the current heavy use of Guardsmen and Reservists in Iraq and Afghanistan, this book has a lot more relevance today than when it was first published.

Donnelly is interested in exploring the contribution and effectiveness of the Guard during this war.Only about a third of the Guard was mobilized during the war, and only half of these soldiers ended up in Korea.Even then, most Guard units were deployed only as reserve units and saw little fighting.The 45th Infantry Division, a Guard unit out of Oklahoma, was the only division sized unit that sent into combat.Even then, Gen. J. Lawton Collins, the Army Chief of Staff, had to force Eighth Army commander General Matthew B. Ridgway to use this unit.Collins feared the damage to Guard-Regular relations that might otherwise come about if the turmoil of mobilization never resulted in actual deployment in combat.

Donnelly finds that the Guard did well during the Korean War.The units that went to Korea performed the best, according to U.S. Army training tests and formal evaluations.The units that went to Europe to backfill regular formations in Korea also turned in solid performances, while those that were on active duty but remained in the United States performed poorly since they were raided for quality personnel to make good losses in active duty units.The main factors determining success for Guard units were the same things for those of regular units: amount of training, quality of units, and adequate supplies.

This book is quite interesting.The writing is solid and adequate.The coverage is more institutional than personal and there are few anecdotes to enliven the text.The topic is hardly sexy and exciting, but Donnelly clearly shows its importance.

Federalization of the State National Guard Units- Korean War
The Author selects four of the State Guard units called into federal service to follow in depth through training and assignment. I found his treatment of the controversial purge of the African-American officers of the 272nd Field Artillery Battalion from Massachusetts excellent. In this age of 'political correctness' he presented all the facts without taking sides in the controversey, letting the reader come to his or her judgment as to whether the purge was necessary to make the unit operational. The White Col. involved was over-ruled in part after the Pittsburgh Courier, a leading African American newspaper, sent a telegram to Secretary of the Army, Pace. However, after the Col's transfer, the Army disbanded all Black units and racially integrated all units. (note: Truman's Exe. Order regarding integration was 4 yrs. prior in 1948). To quote the Author, "In the end, what the story of the 272nd's..federal service demonstrates above all, is the eternal military truth: good units are based on good troops, good training, and good leadership." The politics involved with all the State Guard units contributed to the tensions and in-fighting among the WWII regulars, the governor appointed officers (frequently not qualified), the assigning to the units draftees from other states, and the 'raiding' of the units of skilled personnel to assign to units fighting in Korea.The Author also covers in detail the lack of training and the inadequate equipment whichmost all the State Guards shared. As a taxpayer with my eyes on the Federal "Defense" Budget, I only hope someone in charge in the Pentagon will read this book and learn from the mistakes made during the 'call-up' of the State Guards during the Korean Conflict. ... Read more

Product Description
In the fifty years since the Korean War dominated America's headlines, the poor state of readiness of U.S. armed forces at the beginning of that conflict has faded from memory. Yet, in those early days of desperate combat-when victory and even survival were far from certain-many Americans were rapidly deployed to this new-found war zone, deplorably unprepared for the challenges that awaited them. By focusing on one unit-a Marine Corps Reserve company called to active duty with no warning and virtually no time to prepare-this meticulously researched and vividly presented account makes clear what these individuals faced and how they coped.

This is a human story that takes the reader into the personal lives of the participants and provides a view of post-World War II American society. Through the lens of this detailed look at one company in a nearly forgotten war, important issues come into view that are relevant today. The efforts of the Marine Corps to remain adequately prepared for combat in a time when economic and political considerations mandate a military drawdown have particular relevance to current debates, and the trials and tribulations recounted here are rife with lessons for today's planners, trainers, and warriors. The authors have blended documentary research with newspaper accounts of the day, interviews with participants, personal correspondence, and diaries to reconstruct this amazing story of what happened when a group of young people from middle America were called upon to make an unexpected journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unusual Story!
_Unexpected Journey_ is the history of Company C, 16th Infantry Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, from Evansville, Indiana, and its combat service during the Korean War.The authors have written a very personal story, which delves deeply into the lives of the men of Company C, and describes the difficulties they faced along with how they managed to cope with those difficulties.In writing this book, the authors relied heavily on oral interviews done with the surviving members of Company C.In addition, the authors have utilized not only archival primary sources, but also newspaper accounts, letters, and diaries to reconstruct the story of what happened to these young men from middle America.This book is highly recommended for those interested in the use of reserve forces or the Korean War.

A Review of Unexpected Journey
Before reading this book I had very little knowledge about the Korean War.Now I have new found respect and admiration for these veterans and veterans of all wars.The authors have done a masterful job of weaving the eye witness accounts of these small town reservists into an intriquing story.It is the story of the real live heroes that we Americans have to thank for the freedom and peacetime we take for granted.If you came away from the movie "Saving Private Ryan" with the feeling of extreme gratitude for never having experienced war first hand, you will get the same jolt from reading "Unexpected Journey: A Marine Corps Reserve Company in the Korean War." ... Read more